The Well + Wonder bench keeps getting deeper and deeper. Our artist's are beyond talented and we are beside ourselves for the opportunity to add more and more. All of that being said, We are so excited to welcome another new artist to the Well + Wonder team this afternoon! Welcome, Renee Evans! Renee Evans enjoyed writing stories as a child and developed a love for visual storytelling through painting in high school and college. It was in her Fine Art Painting class in college where she first explored painting with oil paint, and it has been her chosen medium ever since. She is inspired by the beauty in nature and life and strives to create work that you can get lost in. She often paints what she likes to call her daydreams – intuitive landscapes that are inviting and evoke a sense of joy. She also enjoys painting still life and portraits. Renee currently resides in Middle Tennessee with her husband and three children. She paints alongside her daily life from a home studio. Renee's debut collection releases on Well + Wonder Thursday, 05/08 at 10 am Eastern time, and believe us when we say we will be counting down the minutes! Continue reading to step inside Renee's studio and brain on the eve of her Well + Wonder debut.
What is currently on your nightstand?
A glass of water, Southern Living magazine, a stack of books I’ve either started and haven’t finished or am waiting to start, nail polish, a hair tie, and a lamp.
Who is your biggest influence as an artist and why?
For a while now I’ve been really enamored by Andrew Wyeth’s work. I really appreciate his attention to detail, but also his ability to add just enough detail where it’s necessary. He had the ability to make ordinary and somewhat melancholy days beautiful.
I also recently discovered Joaquin Sorolla and his use of color and the way he paints dappled light is so inspiring!
Tell us about your childhood. What is the most memorable moment as a young person?
I grew up in a very small farm town in the middle of Iowa. When I was younger it felt too small and too quiet, but now I really appreciate (and miss) that. I could roam around town and the outskirts without a worry. When I was probably around 10 or so, my older brother built a tree house next to the creek that ran along the edge of town and we would have to cross over the railroad tracks bridge to get to it, but once you did, it felt like you were miles away from anything. The grass was tall and the trees grew wild. I remember laying in the grass and looking up at the clouds, daydreaming and being very at peace. I go back to that place in my head a lot and it still brings me peace.
If you could only have one supply in your art studio, what would it be and why?
Paper. If I could only have one thing to create with, I think paper is the most versatile, even if you didn’t have pencils or paint and brushes, you can tear it, fold it, wrinkle it, cut it, etc., and create something without any other supply.
What is your favorite room in your house? Describe it.
Currently, it’s my dining nook. It sits just off our kitchen and is kind of rounded with windows on one side. I painted a mural that fills up the back wall and wraps around. It’s my favorite place right now.
What is your biggest score online?
I love a good J. Crew sale, I got a beautiful wool coat on super sale a few years ago and was really excited about it!
What is the benefit of buying art through a collective? What do you recommend for those that are new to buying original art?
An art collective provides a unique opportunity to see and collect art from many different artists that you might not have otherwise come across. It’s a great way to build your own collection without intimidation.
First and foremost, if you are new to buying original art, look for the piece that sparks joy. You don’t have to buy huge pieces, either. Start with a small original piece that you love and build your collection around that.
If you have the entire day to spend in an art museum, which one and why?
The Louvre! I have never been and it is my dream! When I was taking art history in college, my professor shared about seeing the Nike of Samothrace in person and since then I have always wanted to see it myself.
What is your favorite hotel and what makes it special?
I actually am not very fond of hotels! LOL I much prefer sleeping at home, but I would love to stay at The Plaza Hotel in New York City someday!
If you were a lipstick color would you be red, pink, or clear and why?
Clear. While I do like the idea of red, every time I try it on, I wipe it off. I do not like to draw attention to myself and I always feel like red is too loud for me.
I can never get on a plane without….
Water and a sweater!
How did you get into the world of art?
I really fell in love with creating art in high school and decided it was what I was meant to do. I finished my required courses as fast as I could and took as many art classes as possible.
What do you do to relax?
I like to either draw or paint, but without any expectations or plan, just to create. I also like to run or go on a walk to clear my mind. I keep myself busy a lot and even relaxing usually involves doing something, but if I really don’t feel like doing anything, I’ll watch a movie or put on the Gilmore Girls.
When do you get the biggest surge of inspiration?
I get inspired from being outside. Even if I’m just in my car driving, I’ll see something beautiful or interesting and wish I could pull over and paint it.
Prediction for the Color of 2026?
I think something pastel, either a baby blue or buttery yellow?
What is your idea of a date night? Dinner and a movie or dancing all night?
Dinner and a movie
Tell us about your favorite painting that you have created.
I painted a piece about a year ago that had blue skies and pink clouds and to me, it was so beautiful and calming. It’s a favorite of mine because the collector who purchased it told me she actually felt like it lowered her blood pressure looking at it. I was so proud that I could convey that kind of peach through my artwork.
One piece of advice for buying original art?
Buy what you connect with and love. If it stops you in your tracks, that’s a sign.
